Planning Commission proposing Tk 1.09 trillion ADP, stresses on transport sector

The Planning Commission has planned a Tk 1.09 trillion Annual Development Programme (ADP) for the forthcoming 2016-17 financial year, emphasising on the transport sector.

The proposal will be tabled before the National Economic Council (NEC) meeting on Thursday, Planning Division Secretary Tariqul Islam has said.

Speaking to bdnews24.com on Monday, Islam said, “A Tk 1.09 trillion ADP proposal, including Tk 1.018 trillion from self-generated finances by autonomous organisations or corporations shall be tabled before the NEC.”

The proposed ADP figure for 2016-17 fiscal is Tk 200 billion higher than the ADP figures for the ongoing financial year.

About 26 percent of the finance allocation, or Tk 285.02 billion for the coming fiscal year's ADP alone has been earmarked for road transport and highways, the secretary said.

“In the new fiscal, it has been proposed that the transport sector get the maximum share of the ADP. But the power sector finance will go down,” the planning secretary said.

“Mainly the Padma Bridge, the construction of the railway lines across the Padma to Jessore, the Metrorail project and the Dohazari to Ramu via Cox’s Bazaar railway lines construction project, and several other such big projects are underway,” he said.

“Due to pressure on finances for these projects, maximum sanction has been proposed for this head (transport)”, he added.

Education and religion is going to get Tk 140 billion, the second highest for a sector.

Drinking water supply and housing finances stand to receive up to Tk 130 billion, and stand at the third highest ADP priority for the coming fiscal.

The Planning Commission has also prepared a preliminary blueprint for allocating Tk 125 billion for the power sector and another Tk 90 billion for rural development.